Mark Duggan: Family say he 'was not a gangster'

The family of Mark Duggan, who was shot by police in Tottenham, north London, have said he was "not a gangster" and they do not believe he had a gun.

Mr Duggan's mother Pamela said she did not believe he was armed when he was stopped by police in Ferry Lane on 4 August 2011.

Both Mrs Duggan and his aunt Carole Duggan said he was not involved in organised crime but he was a "well-liked local lad".

An inquest into the death has concluded he was lawfully killed.

The inquest jury found that Mr Duggan did have a gun on him when he was stopped in the minicab, and that he "more likely than not" threw the gun just before he was shot. The weapon was found about 20ft (6m) away from the scene.

Mr Duggan's death sparked riots in Tottenham, which later spread to other parts of London and England.

Det Ch Insp Mick Foote, a senior Metropolitan Police officer, had told the inquest Mr Duggan was "among Europe's most violent criminals" and a member of Tottenham's TMD gang.

But Pamela Duggan said she did not believe he was violent or in a gang.

She said she was still looking for an explanation as to why he was shot by armed police after the minicab he was travelling in was stopped by officers.

"He was a lovely young boy, cared for his family and his children, tried to keep peace with everything and everyone and he did," she said.

'Minor criminal record'

Mrs Duggan said people had come to her house to tell her her son had been shot but she did not believe them as she had not been told by the police.

"That's why I kept saying he is alive, he's around somewhere, because the police never told me. They are supposed to come and tell me," she said.

Mark Duggan was shot dead by armed police after being stopped in Tottenham in August 2011

"I don't know why they killed him... not one simple clue. I don't know why and I would love to know why."

She also denied the allegation that Mr Duggan had a gun on him when he was stopped and subsequently shot.

"Mark wasn't stupid or silly. I don't think anyone's that stupid actually. I don't believe that one bit," she said.

She added that if her son had done something wrong he should have been put in prison, rather than shot.

"Thirty-one officers around one boy and minicab driver and you shot him twice, why did you do that?"

Mr Duggan's aunt Carole said her nephew had a "minor criminal record" and had been wrongly portrayed as a gangster in the media.

"Mark wasn't an angel but he wasn't dangerous either," she said.

"We know who Mark was, and he certainly was not a gangster, he was not feared by all of these people."